Pressbox gang lost connection, but Phillies held it together

Everything was going along swimmingly here in the pressbox at Tropicana Field through about seven innings tonight.

The greatest invention ever made for writers on deadline -- the wireless connection -- was as effective as Cole Hamels, and then, suddenly, the system here crashed.

Many of the writers spent the final innings flailing away at their computers as much as Tampa flailed away at Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge.

Most of the writers, this one included, didn't get back up and running until after the game had ended.

Fortunately, for the Phillies, they never lost their power. They just kept doing the same things they have done for more than a month now in this remarkable 21-5 run since Sept. 11.

They get an early lead, and even though they fail to make the most of their opportunities -- except when Rafael Furcal is involved -- they find a way to get the job done.

So, it was tonight and suddenly you get the feeling that this is really going to happen. The Phillies are going to win this series and end 25 years of misery for that city.

If Brett Myers gets it done tonight and the Phillies return home with a 2-0 lead, this series is over. And it will end without a return trip to sunny Florida. I know what Tampa did in Boston in Games 3 and 4 and nearly in Game 5, but these Phillies are not the Red Sox. They're better, especially in the clutch, especially on the mound.

Some postgame notes:

The Phillies became just the sixth road team in 21 World Series since 1987 to win Game 1. Three of the previous five road teams to win Game 1 went on to win the series.

Hamels' four wins ties him for third most all-time in a single postseason. Randy Johnson (2001) and Francisco Rodriguez (2002) both had five. He's also the fourth postseason pitcher to win four games in four starts, joining Josh Beckett last year, Dave Stewart in 1989 and David Wells in 1998.

Chase Utley had two RBIs and two steals for the Phils.

Joe Maddon on the game: "They beat us with the first home run in the first inning. They got us early and held up."

Charlie Manuel on the game: "I can't think of any other way to quiet a crowd down [like Utley did with his two-run homer]. That's how you do it. If you want to take the wind out of their sails and shut up the cowbells, that will do it. Except in Citizens Bank Park. If you hit home runs there, they ring the Liberty Bell and that's good."